Jeffrey McCall: Sad state of election coverage

5:01 PM,
Nov. 29, 2012

Written by

Jeffrey M. McCall

Analysts who wonder why Americans are so down on politics can begin the discussion by looking at media coverage. Post-election research demonstrates the mainstream media presented the presidential campaign through a negative lens. It is little wonder that people get weary of politics and that voter turnout in 2012 was lower than expected. News coverage was certainly not portrayed as a celebration of democracy in action.

A study by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism analyzed campaign coverage from the major broadcast outlets, newspapers and websites. Some ...